Combined 7th/8th grade team holds on for win over Groveton

8th grader Bobby Dorman (#24) puts a stop on the Groveton ball carrier... with authority! The Bison were scheduled to host the Groveton Indians in three sub-varsity games on Thursday, but Groveton was short-handed due to eligibility, illness and injuries, and the JV game was cancelled. Their junior high was hard-hit as well, so the coaching staffs agreed to combine their 7th and 8th grade teams for one junior high game which was played at 5:00 at Brewer Field. Fans still got their money's worth, as the single junior high game turned out to be a great one with the outcome not decided until the final minute.

Groveton took the early lead, scoring in the first quarter and successfully tacking on two points with a PAT run. Buffalo quickly answered with a scoring drive of their own. Logan Jones' 17-yard touchdown run closed the gap, but the Indians' defense denied BJHS on the PAT attempt, and Buffalo trailed by two, 6-8.

The Junior High Bison and Groveton Indians dueled long and hard at Brewer Field on Thursday in a combined 7th-8th matchup. The Bison came from behind and held on for the victory, 20-16. Van’Go’photo Groveton took the kickoff and soon found the endzone again, but an offensive holding call nullified that score. The Bison defense did not give them another opportunity and on 4th down Trent Martin decked the quarterback to end the threat.

Immediately upon regaining possession of the ball, BJHS' Jones scored again on a 23-yarder that gave the Bison the lead, 12-8. Martin was met quickly on the run for the PAT and he was stopped short of the goal line.

The Indians got a great return on the ensuing kickoff, but a flag backed them up to start their drive at their own 20-yard-line. The Bison defenders made them fight for every yard, with standout tackles by Adam Simp- son, Jones, Bobby Dorman, Paul Mata and Tyler Adams. Groveton's drive stalled out in Bison territory with just seconds left in the first half. Buffalo ended the half with a perfectly executed reverse that launched Bobby Dorman well past mid-field, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the second half.

Bison fans (L-R) Alice Read, Ruth Rodell and Mike Read and Kassidy Bell enjoy Friday night’s varsity game. Van’Go’photo The Bison received the kickoff to start the third quarter and marched steadily up the field. Jones, Martin and Dorman each picked up first down yardage on the way to first-and-ten at the 1-yardline. Quarterback Kyle Read scored on the keeper, Jones scooted into the left corner to add the two-pointer, and BJHS had a more comfortable lead, 20-8.

Buffalo's defense was fired up, as well, and Dustin Sheffield, Read and Martin contributed tackles to stop the Indians' next drive and put the Bison "O" back on the field at their own 3-yard-line. This time the Indian defenders bowed up (pun intended!) and they forced a short punt and Groveton got the ball back with great field position. GJHS' Kemper scored their second TD with 4:23 left in the game and he carried on the two point run as well to close to within four, 20-16.

The Indians tried a short kick and Kyle Read covered it for the Bison. Hard running by the offense could not earn a Bison first down, however, and Groveton got another chance to score with plenty of time left on the clock.

The Indians used a reverse for a big gain, and followed that with another quick first down. With their opponent inside the 20 and threatening, the Bison defense put everything they had into protecting their slim lead. First down... Nothing. Second down... They stopped Groveton for short gain. Third down... A herd of Buffalo pushed them back. Fourth and long... Read, Adams and T.J. Campbell blasted through to chase the ball carrier down well behind the line of scrimmage and clinch the win for Buffalo.

This week the sub-varsity Bison are scheduled to play at Centerville on Thursday. Play begins at 5:00 p.m.